INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION YEAR

This module aims to strengthen English language abilities in all four areas (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) and improve academic study skills. Students will also learn the fundamentals of conducting research, such as writing academic papers and citing sources.

Upon joining the program, students will be given a mathematics placement test to determine whether they take the basic or advanced route. Both are designed to help students develop skills around mathematics and statistics. The first semester focuses on generic content, while the module in the second semester is specific to each student’s chosen subject.

This second semester module is a follow-up for ‘Advanced Mathematics’ and is a mandatory module for students in the subject areas ‘Sciences’ and ‘Technology’. Since advanced mathematical skills are essential for students in these subject areas, ‘Pure Mathematics’ provides them with the essential knowledge and tools to be properly prepared for the respective undergraduate degrees at Jacobs University. The course covers main topics in introductory algebra and calculus, and the study sessions include extensive problem solving as well as tutorials.

This second-semester module is essential for students continuing their studies within the subject are ‘Society’, particularly in the areas of business and management, logistics, and social sciences and humanities. Fundamental knowledge in statistics is essential for degrees within these areas, and this is what the module ‘Foundation Statistics’ provide for student on that pathway. The course covers main topics in statistical analysis and probability, sampling and confidence limits, as well as correlation and regression. The study sessions include extensive application of statistical concepts on applied models.

Students will learn the basics of coding and computational thinking providing them with problem-solving skills that are highly sought after in today’s job market.

The program also provides students with training for the TestAS, which is the precondition for progressing to an undergraduate degree program at Jacobs University. This only applies to students who need to pass a German university entrance examination.

This module has been specially designed to enable students to progress to their undergraduate studies. It focuses on increasing the self-competence and social skills necessary to flourish in a university environment. It also provides students with general skills that pave the way for success in life and the world of employment.

This module introduces students to the structure and components of a computer system and the key components and responsibilities of an operating system. Providing students with an understanding of how computers and their Windows Operating systems and Linux Operating systems work will equip them with a good grounding for their degree studies.

This module introduces students to the process of programming. The general principles of the Python 3 programming language are outlined, and students develop their programming skills by learning to program using Python 3. The teaching approach will involve some theory and trouble-shooting sessions but will feature a significant number of hours engaged in the practical work involved in learning and working with Python 3.

Chemistry is an essential discipline for any student wanting to continue their studies in natural, physical, and biological sciences at Jacobs University. The first semester module ‘Foundation Chemistry’ hence provides the students within the subject area ‘Sciences’ with an overall and basic knowledge of the various fields within chemistry. Topics covered include fundamental aspects of general, analytical, inorganic, physical, and organic chemistry. The study sessions will be supplemented with a first overview on research methods within chemistry.

Alongside chemistry, physics is a complementary discipline in science, and a basic knowledge of main topics in physics is a requirement for students to start their undergraduate studies at Jacobs within the different scientific degrees. The second semester module ‘Foundation Physics’ provides the students within such knowledge, and covers areas within mechanics, thermodynamics, optics, and quantum and nuclear physics among others. Same as with ‘Foundation Chemistry’, this course also gives a first impression of research within physics.

This module introduces students to political economy, macroeconomics and microeconomics, and their differences. The course considers economic aspects of production, distribution and consumption of goods and services, introduces the idea of markets as places for economic transactions, including supply and demand, and explains the role of money in a society. Foundation Economics is a subject specific module within the ‘Society’ subject area and is provided in the first semester of their foundation year. The course aims to provide students with the appropriate foundation in economic theory and economic history, and to enable them to be successful in their later related undergraduate studies in the fields of Business, Industrial Engineering or Social Sciences.

This module aims to introduce students to the basic mechanics and processes of financial accounting in both theory and practice, including bookkeeping. It further helps students to understand the importance of financial accounting procedures and the resulting financial statements for running a business. Financial Accounting is a subject specific module within the ‘Society’ subject area and is provided in the second semester of their foundation year. This course provides them the needed foundation and to enable them to be successful in their later related undergraduate studies in the fields of Business, Industrial Engineering or Social Sciences.